Costume: Gossip Design 1
Influence: 15th Century Jester, Waves in the Abstract
art, Kaftan Design
The Jester
collar idea came from the fact the mystery play was performed in the 15th
century. The jokers or clowns of the day were Jesters. The Gossips are the
drunks and mockers of Noah and his family who build the ark but ultimately the
joke is on them when they fall victim to the flood that Noah predicted.
The kaftan
has been worn for thousands of years. Interestingly enough it made a comeback
in the late 1950’s and 60’s when the hippie movement was going to take off and
when this Mystery play was put to Benjamin Britten’s music. The kaftan is quite
popular nowadays as well – it is a timeless piece! I thought that the sleeves
were quite clown like pulled together at the cuff, fitting in with the Jester
idea.
The batik
patterns that would be painted onto the linen or cotton kaftan, included
influence from the abstract art on the inspiration mood board given to us. I
chose shapes and patterns that I felt represented the waves that eventually
swallow up the gossips.
Their costumes
would represent their fate; they mock, they jest, they drink, they fall victim
to the waves.
Extras:
A floaty
headscarf that the gossips could dance with and use to flick about and annoy
Noah and his sons. They could be used to tie around their heads when the
weather turns bad.
They could
carry a wine cup to drink from on a regular basis to show they are drunks.
Possible developments:
Red nose
pained onto the gossips to show even more they are clowns and drunks.
Bells added
to the jester collars.
Different wave
patterns and sea colours added to the kaftan designs for each individual Gossip.
